The phase II trial results of a gatifloxacin-containing regimen are demonstrating good potential. The regimen is significantly more potent than the currently recommended six-month regimen of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol, and suggests that when gatifloxacin is used instead of ethambutol, the standard six-month regimen may be shortened to four months.

"We are working to bring together public and private partners to speed development for this new treatment," said Dr. Robert Ridley, Director of the World Health Organization-based Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR). This is the most advanced shorter TB treatment regimen presently in development, and could be available to the public by the end of 2009 if positive results continue.

One-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, with approximately eight million people developing the active form of the disease every year. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has dramatically increased the incidence of this disease. A shorter TB regime will also help improve treatment adherence and preventing the development of multidrug-resistant TB.